Merkel reiterates "importance" of reviving Mideast peace talks
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
Berlin, Jan 18, IRNA -- German Chancellor Angela Merkel here Monday reaffirmed "the importance" of jump-starting the bogged down Mideast peace process following her talks with the prime minister of the Zionist regime, Benjamin Netanyahu.
"Germany has a basic interest in getting the (Mideast) negotiation process underway," Merkel told media representatives at the chancellery in Berlin.
It is "important" now to revive the Middle East peace talks, she added.
Merkel stressed again the need to use "the window of opportunity".
The German leader made no secret that she expected greater flexibility from Israel on the issue of settlement stop.
The German government has repeatedly expressed "great concern" over the continued Israeli settlement expansion in the West Bank and Jerusalem.
Berlin views the building of Israeli settlements as "an obstacle towards a political solution of the Mideast peace process."
Merkel emphasized also the crucial US leadership role in re-igniting the Middle East peace process.
Meanwhile, Merkel announced also that Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas would visit Germany in early February to discuss the ongoing impasse in the Middle East peace process.
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End News / IRNA / News Code 905273
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